Wrist cigarette or cigar lighter



April 15, 1952 M. E. SIEBER WRIST CIGARETTE 0R CIGAR LIGHTER 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed March 24, 1950 INVENTOR MART/N E. SIEBER ATTORNEYS yiklfii April 15, 1952 M. E. SIEBER WRIST CIGARETTE OR CIGAR LIGHTER 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed March 24, 1950 I'll. II

ll IIIIH I IIIIIIIIH Patented Apr. 15, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WRIST CIGARETTE R CIGAR LIGHTER Martin E. Sieber, Dayton, Ohio Application March 24, 1950, Serial No. 151,569 Claims. (Cl. 67-4.1)

The present invention relates to cigarette or that produces a flame when the cover is opened.

Still another object is to provide a lighter with a collapsible wind guard such that when the lighter is closed the guard is caused to collapse within the confines of the case.

Another object is to provide a lighter as thin as a wrist watch and having. a guard which expands when .the lighter is operated to protect the flame from the wind.

A further object is to provide a lighter adapted to be strapped to the wrist and is provided with a collapsible flint-striking and wind guard structure of a character as to permit the lighter to assumewrist watch dimensions when closed.

Still another object is to provide a lighter having an improved flint-striking mechanism which responds to the movements of the coveropening mechanism. a

A further object is to provide a normally closed lighter provided with a hinged cover which can be'opened only when at least two fingers are employed to operate the opening mechanism.

Another object is to provide a lighter case containing a flint-striking and wick structure together witha wind guard, the device having. dimensions no larger than a wrist watch when the case is closed but having the ordinary lighter dimensions when the case is opened.

Still another object is to provide a lighter for cigarettes or cigars having a case with a hingeable cover and containing a wick-lighting strucand a flint-striking mechanism cooperating with awick extending outof a fuel reservoir, the

reservoir having .amaximum fluid capacity notwithstanding its relatively diminutive size.

Another object is to provide a cigarette or cigar lighter having a hingeable cover, which when closed, causes the interior lighting mechanism to collapse, and a watch secured to the cover, the overall thickness of the lighter and watch being not substantially greater than the thickness of the ordinary wrist watch.

Other objects and features will be apparent as the following specification is perused in connection with the accompanying drawings, in

which:

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the improved lighter applied to the wrist and showing the device in operative condition. The dimensions depicted in this figure are somewhat more than twice the actual size of the device;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the lighter shown in Figure 1 but with the cover closed and the interior parts compressed to a thickness not substantially greater than that of an ordinary wrist watch;

Figure 3 represents a plan view of the improved lighter, but greatly enlarged, with the cover open to expose the interior parts. The sleeveswhich hold the finger-unlatching devices are shown in section;

Figure 4 is an elevational view of the improved lighter drawn to the same enlarged scale as Figure 3, showing the manner in which the contents of the case become extended when the cover is opened. This cover is shown in section;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of the device illustrated in Figure 4, but showing the lighter with the cover closed:

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 in Figure 5 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 7 is an elevational view of the improved lighter looking toward the rear end of the device as indicated by the line 1-1 in Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view of the lighter taken at about the line 8-8 in Figure 5;

Figure 9 is a plan view, but broken away to expose some of the interior parts of a modified form of the improved lighter;

Figure 10- is a longitudinal sectional view, partly in elevation, of the lighter shown in Figure 9. This Figure and Figure 9 are also of greatly enlarged size;

Figure 11 is an elevational view of the lighter shown in Figures 9 and 10, but with the cover open and in section;

Figures 12 and 13 are detailed views in tworespective positions of the levers included in the cover-opening mechanism;

Figure 14 is a perspective view of still another modified lighter structure in which a different form of mechanism is employed from that shown in Figures 3 and 9 for raising the cover in response to squeezing the finger-operated knobs;

Figure 15 is a fragmentary sectional view of the cover of the improved lighter shown in Figures 4 and but with provision therein for receiving a relatively thin wrist watch; and

Figure 16 is a perspective View of the combined lighter and wrist watch structure shown in Figure 15 depicted as a complete unit and strapped about the wrist.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to 8,

reference character I represents the lower or main portion of the lighter casing, the cover of which is indicated at 2. This cover'is hinged to the casing portion at 3 and is provided with a latching device which can best be seen in Figs. 5 and 6. The latching mechanism is provided for preventing the cover from accidentally opening and, as will be explained hereinafter, the arrangement is such that separate fingers must be applied in a compressing action against the two knobs 4 before the cover is unlatched and springs open. This is a safety feature in that if one or the other of the knobs were accidentally struck or pressed the latch would still hold. These finger knobs are carried on a rod 5 and are contained in sleeves '6, secured inanysuitable manner at their outer ends to the interior surface of the case i. The rods 5 are of a length as to leave a space between the inner ends when the knobs are at their fully extended position as shown in Fig. 6 and these ends are provided witha recessed opening indicated at T for receiving an aligned compression spring 8.

The arrangement is such that when a double compressing action is exercised at the finger knobs 4 the rods 5 will move inwardly and upon release of the pressure the spring will cause the rods to move outwardly, i. e. away from one another. These rods at their inner ends, carry a bar 9 which is provided at its upper end with a finger or latch it. This latch is adapted to engage the inner or upper surface of a metal tongue ll positioned at opposite sides of the cover 2 as indicated in Fig.5. In order that the cover will automatically open when the latches it are withdrawn from the tabs or tongues II, a pair of torsional springs 12 surrounding the pin 3 is employed, the lower leg [3 of each "spring being secured to the interior surface of the case and the upper or longer leg I4 rests against the underside of the cover. Thus when the finger knobs 4 are compressed, for example, between the forefinger and the thumb, the latches I!) are disengaged from the tongues ll and the cover immediately springs upward due to the urge of the springs.

The lower case i may be provided with metal loops I5 (Fig. 1), similar to a wrist watch, for receiving a strap It for encircling the wrist. Within the case there is a reservoir for lighting fluid, thi reservoir beingconstituted of a cylindrical metal member I? secured peripherally to upstanding lips [8 formed on the bottom of the case I. The upper plate portion of the reservoir H is preferably given a downwardly extending conical shape as indicated at I9, which is provided at the center with an apertured sleeve 20. The purpose of this conical structure will be explained hereinafter. Within the sleeve there is a wick 2| which may be formed of non-burnable fiber such asfine asbestos for carrying "the flanged as indicated at 23 in order to provide a solid foundation surface for securing the plate of the plate 22 is serrated in order to give a rasping effect. A flint rod 24 cooperates with the steel plate 22 to provide the necessary igniting spark and this flint rod is caused to move rapid- 1y over the serrations 25 when the cover is opened in response to pressure on the finger knobs 4. For this purpose the flint rod is slidably carried on a bracket 26 which is secured to the undersurface of the cover, and a leaf-spring 21 may be riveted to the bracket in order to exert pressure on the end of the flint rod opposite from where the rod contacts the serrations 25. These details are shown more clearly in Figs. 4 and 5.

In order to prevent the flint rod 24 from sliding through its bracket 26 when the cover is opened, as shown in Fig. 4, a pair of restraining rods or hooks 28 is employed. These rods are fixably secured to opposite sides of the bracket 26 in any suitable manner, for example by slitting the bracket at two places on each side to leave a pair of ears 29 which hold the rods 28 against the bracket. These rods are provided with hooks (not shown) at their lower ends, the hooked portions extending toward one another and serving as a support for the lower surface of the flint rod 24, as seen in Fig. 4.

The mounting 29 for these rods is flexible so that the rods can be temporarily forced outwardly on both sides of the plate 22 when the cover 2 is moved to closed position as shown in Fig. 5. However, when the cover is released at the knobs 4 and springs upwardly, the rods 28 are eventually withdrawn from the plate 22 and move toward one another, as indicated in Fig. 4, to furnish a support for the flint rod 24. It will be understood that the spring 21 maintains a firm rubbing contact between the flint rod 24 and the serrated edge 25 of the plate 22 and after the cover has been released and flies upwardly, sparks are produced at the end of the flint rod which ignite the wick 2|.

It is desirable to provide a wind guard for the flame and in my improved lighter this is accomplished by means of a helicallyformed strip of spring steel 30, the convolutions being of smaller diameter as the top of the helix is approached (as seen in Fig. 4) and adapted to fit fl'atwise within one another when compressed by the closing action of the cover 2 as shown in Fig. 5. The lower or largest convolution of the spring metal guard may be secured to the upper surface of the reservoir I! by means of retaining links 3! (Fig. 3).

From the foregoing it is evident that I have disclosed a lighter mechanism in which the outstanding feature is practicability consistent with diminutive size and in which all the parts, including the wind guard, can be collapsed to a flattened state, nesting snugly within one 'anreceiving a pin 53 which is secured tothe of each finger knob 4.

other. The total thickness or the lighter, as shown in Fig. 2, and including the cover and the lower case and the length and width. are such that the lighter is no larger than an ordinary sized rectangularly formed wrist watch. How- -li ever, when the cover is released by pressing on both of the knobs 4 and thereafter allowed to 7 swing upwardly due to the pressure-o1 the spring l2, a wind guard is provided of suiiicient height to protect the enclosed flame, even in a strong of the knobs 4 at all times. and even after the cover has been unlatched. The parts in these figures, which have the same structure and function as the parts in' Figures 1 to 8 previously described, have been given the same reference characters.

in Figures 1 to 8 in that as the knobs 4 are compressed between two fingers, the latch II is caused to be withdrawn from the metal tongues However, the purpose of this particular modification isto provide a positive mechanical "to In general, the latching and unlatching deviceindicated at It, II is the same as connection between the inward movement 01' the knobs 4 and the upward movement of the cover 2 after the latter has become unlatched.

In the bottom of the case and to one side. as shown in Fig. 9, there is a rod 40 having a wall 4| at the left-hand end (Fig. 10) board for slidably receiving a plunger 42. The member 4! is P cut away for part of its length to the right of the wall 4| and terminates in a larger sleeve portion 43. This sleeve rotatably supports a circularly grooved member 44 which is integral with the rod 42.

other end of the spring resting against the inner surface of the wall 4|. The rod 42 is provided A shoulder 45 is formed on the rod to serve as a seatfor a compressionspring 46, the

with a flat portion 41 having a pin 48 thereon.

There is a bell crank lever 49 (Figs. 12 and 13) .pivoted at 50 in any suitable manner to the case I. The lower end of the bell crank is'provided with a square slot 5| for loosely receiving the pin 48. The other or upper end of the bell crank is also provided with a square slot 52 for ioosel sr Consequently, as each rod 5 is moved, for example upwardly, as indicated by the arrows in Figs. 12 and 13, the pin 53, in moving, 'wiil turn the bell crank 49 clockwise aboutthe pivot 50 to pull the rod 42 to the left. The succeeding positions of the bell crank and the rod" can readily be seen by comparing Figs. 12*and 13. This movement to the left of the rod will cause the spring 46 (Fig. 10) tocompress.

Directly above the grooved member 44 there is a partial gear element 54 pivoted at 55 in any suitable manner on the case I, this gear having a flat surface indicated at 55. There is a torsional spring 51 located directly above the rod 5 42, one tail of the spring being securedat 58 to thecover 2, and the other tail being carried through guides 59 and terminating in a collar 60 which is secured as by welding to the surface 56 of the gear 54. Thus as the circular prosional'spflh'g tomove to the left and thus place opened in response to compression the circular portion of the spring under compression. The only way that the spring can relieve itself of this internal stress is to push upwardly against the cover 2 at the point 58, thus causing the cover to raise slightly.

Assuming that it is desired to openthe cover in order to operate the lighter, the finger knobs 4 are compressed together as in the case of the previously described figures, and the latches 10 (Fig. 6) move toward one another to release themselves from the tongues ll. Inasmuch as the rods 4 are connected through a rigid lever system, including the bell crank 49 and the pins 53, 48 tothe rod 42, the element 44 and gear 54, the gear will immediately turn and will place the torsional spring 51 under compression. Thus the spring serves to take up or absorb the initial movementsof the rigid lever, element 44 and gear system until the latches l0 clear their respective tongues I l.

At this point in the operation there will be a slight flip-up of the cover from the case due to the, stress in the spring, but after that, the upward'movement of the cover will be controlled directly in response and in relation to the inward movements of the finger knobs 4 because the spring then serves as a relatively rigid lever secured at the'right end to the gear 54. When these knobs have moved to their innermost position, the cover 2 will have reached a vertical position as shown in Fig. 11. It was explained that the left-hand movement of the rod 42 causes the spring 46 to compress (see Fig. 11) so that immediately upon releasin the knobs 4, as'by counter-clockwise and to swing the spring-like lever 51 through an arc until the cover has reached a closed position. 7

Even after the cover has reached this position, the spring will still cause the rod 42 to move to the right and this movement will communicate itself through the bell crank 49 to the rods 5 to cause the latches Hi to re-engage their respective tongues. Thus the cover is automatically locked in position and cannot be opened until the finger knobs 4 are again com pressed. It is apparent that the spring 51 absorbs the mechanical energy that is -communicated to it by the spring 46 and which normally would have no other place to go after the cover had reached its closed position but-before the latching effect takes place. Thus the spring 5! serves to absorb mechanical energy both when the finger knobs 4 are initially pressed but before the cover has raised, and again to absorb energy whenthe cover has been closed, but before the latching has taken place.

It will be further noted that the torsional spring, the compression spring, the threaded element, 44' and the gear 54 are placed to one side of the collapsible wind guard 30 so as not to interfere with the collapse of the Wind guard element when the cover is closed. It is apparent that the modification shown in Figs. 9 to 13 in-- elusive contains a reservoir I! and Wick posi, tioned within the wind guard, also the steel plate 22, and flint, rod lighting mechanism automatically operates when the cover is caused 'to be exercised at the finger knobs 4,

Stillanother modification m which the up- I ward rate oftravel of the cover 2 is controlled. 74 "by the knobs 4is shown in Fig.14. In this figure ,7 there is employed a pair of scissors-likelevers fit pivoted at 62. The lower ends of the levers fil'terminate in pivots G3, 64 which are. carried on blocks (not shown) adapted to slidablymove within a groove across the bottom-of the easel.

outwardly through the case. Likewise,- thewire 89' is connected at one end tothe. pivot point :63 and at the other end is receivedby a bracket .13 to which a radiallyextendinglug Miis'secured. Thus, by compressing the lugs 12 14',-;the pivot points 63, B4 are caused to move together and likewise the pivots 65, 56 which, in effect, would cause the cover to raise.

A latching device can be used similar to that described in connection with Fig; 6 andany takeup necessary to accommodate the movement-of the latch before the cover is actually raised can be accommodated by providing a greater length of wire 68, 69 than is necessary to cause movement of the pivot points 63, 6 3. For this purpose the tubing it would be somewhat larger than the wire in order to allow a certain amount oi play. Tension springs 15 maybe positioned in any suitable manner between the casing and the cover so that as the cover is moved upward,

these springs are placed under tension and when at the lugs 12, I4 and the same lighting efiect is obtained by the friction between the flint-rod and the steel plate as was explained in connection with the other figures.

It is further apparent that the rate of travel of the cover up;

wardly to its vertical position controlled by the rate of the pinching effect between the lugs- 12, Hi, and immediately upon releasing this finger pinch, the cover will automatically-move to its closed position on account of the springs 15. 'While the improved apparatus is intended mainly as a lighter for cigarettes'andcigars, adapted on account of its diminutive size to be v.used in place of a wrist watch, it is 'eridentthat the structure lends itself to carrying a watch in the fiat portion of the cover. In Figs. '15 and 16 there is shown a modification in which the cover 2 is provided witha well or. countersunk portionlfi for receiving a thin watch ll sothat the overall thickness of the watch and the lighter is not substantial. It will be noted that the watch is set down almostflush; with the upper or outer surface of the cover, this added depth being obtained by reducing the height of the bracket 28. It is apparent that w hat little .fumes might arise from the lighter during operation cannot possibly affect ,thewatch because the latter is positioned on the.,opposite side;.of-

Ill

the-cover; that faces ;the ;fiame or the fuel reservoirand vfick .I :I- From the "foregoing it is evident that I have disclosed a lighter for igniting cigarettes and cigars or for general lighting or igniting purposes in -which' the total thickness, width and length of-= the lighteris notsubstantially greater thianthe "thickness,- width ;-and length of the average wrist watch, andyet when the lighter :cover is open, a wind guard of adequate height is provided. The opening of the cover after the latch has been disen aged can be caused either by a torsional spring l2 which thereafter makes theopening operation independent of the finger -knobs SJ-or by means of the bell crank lever 49 or thewire cables 68, 69; in which case the rate of traveliof the cover is controlled directly by the inward movements of the finger knobs. In all cases, a wind-guard is provided which moves upwardly toterm a cylindrical element when the coveris. opened"...

It will-be understood that various modifications and arrangements in structure could be made Without-departing from-the spirit of my invention and. accordingly, I desire to comprehend such modifications and substitutions of equivalents as may-be considered tocome within the scope oi theappended claims. y

- Having thus fullydescribed my'invention, what I claim as'ncw and desire to secure by Letters .E'aten't, is:

:-=:1-. A wrist lighter comprising a case and a inova-bleiccver, 'a'lighter in the case, means res'ponsive to, the opening-of the cover for igniting the'lighter, a collapsible Windguard surrounding 'the 'lighter and adapted to extend to full length when the: cover is opened and the lighter is ignited; said wind guard being constituted oi coiled flexible strip' material positioned edge- --vlise; the convolutions being contained within oneanother-soas to form a conically shaped member when in extended position to protect the flame from wind; 1

'2. A wrist lighter comprising a case and a hingeable coverrthere'for, a lighter in the case, 'a'releasable latch for 'maintaining the cover -closed,'-means -for releasing the latch and for opening the coverpsaid means comprising a finger-operated lever-and a flexible connecting llinkto, take up movement of said lever-while the latch is being released and before the cover has started to open, means for igniting the lighter -upon:movement of the cover, and a wind guard 'iormed ofa collapsible helical coil of strip metal positionedgdgewiseand surrounding the lighter, saidcoilbeing held under compression when the cover! is closed but caused to expand to its full extended length when-.the; cover is opened and the-lighter ;is ignited;

3. A cigarette or cigar. lighter including a totally:enclosedcasgcontainin a wick lighter ijnechani sni; and a' windguard, said wind guard being formed as a helix of spring stri metal positioned edgewise and surrounding said mechanism;- said ca-se being adapted to be opened to ignite the lighter and to present thewind guard -in-a longitudinaily eXpanded condition to the ignited lightensaidcase being carried on a strap and fastening to; the wrist; u

A wrist lighter comprising a case and a hingeable-coyer therefor, a lighter-in the case, ya ereleasable latch for maintaining the cover .olosed, ;meansincluding a dual-operated lever Jnechanism if); releasing said latch and for tmer eiiheze v r to: t repelled i i n at a cover is raised.

5. A wrist lighter comprising a case and a hingeable cover therefor, a lighter mechanism and a collapsible wind guard of helical spring strip metal positioned edgewise in the case, a releasable latch for maintaining the cover closed, means for releasing the latch and for opening the cover, said means including a finger-operated mechanism, a reservoir of fuel in the case, a wick extending into the reservoir, means operable upon opening the cover for igniting the lighter and the wick, also for releasing the wind guard from its collapsed to a telescoped extended condition to guard the flame from wind, said case and cover when closed having diminutive dimensions comparable to those of a wrist watch.

MARTIN E. SIEBER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,702,947 Quercia Feb. 19, 1929 1,793,515 Segal Feb. 24, 1931 1,998,339 Sta-nsbury Apr. 16, 1935 2,164,173 Maltner June 27, 1939 2,395,783 Holtzman Feb. 26, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS N umber Country Date 137,025 Austria Apr. 10, 1934 742,426 France Dec. 27, 1932 

